Getting Cash for Your Clothes

Now that the freak cold snap is over, I finally switched out my wardrobe, putting all my winter stuff in storage containers and busting out the summer clothes. As usual, I had a small pile that I knew I wouldn't wear anymore. This time, instead of donating them to Animal Ark, I decided to sell them. I'll never stop donating good stuff to animal charities, but I was curious to know which of the used clothing shops in town would pay the most for my trendier duds. (A few of which, I should note, came from my sister.)

The clothes, most of which were in new, unworn condition:

White tank with lace (Rubbish); 2 crocheted hair wraps in navy and dusty rose (Echo Design); white/black cotton button-down tunic with ties (not sure of brand, 95% chance my sister got it at Nordstrom); faux-leather patent camel handbag (Poppie Jones).

White cotton cargo capris (DKNY); cotton-Lycra light denim jacket (Rubbish); yellow modal tee with ruffle (Banana Republic); Western-style straw hat (Bitten); cotton-Lycra gray/black miniskirt (Lux/Urban Outfitters).

I tossed all my stuff in a bag and brought it to a few stores. In chronological order on the same day:

Plato's Closet in Roseville specializes in juniors' brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Bebe, Lucky and Roxy. Being 31, I no longer wear a lot of these brands, but I figured it was worth a shot. This is the only place where I had previous experience selling clothes; I brought a few things in several years ago and recalled the experience to be pretty quick and painless. Times may have changed a little bit. The woman at the counter took her sweet time acknowledging that I was standing four feet away from her and then told me it would be a 40-minute wait to check out my clothes. I didn't feel like hanging around Har Mar Mall for that long, much less the shoebox that is Plato's Closet, so I left without getting a quote. (I have no patience, sue me.)

Since I didn't hang around Plato's Closet, I didn't find out exactly how they pay for clothes. I'm assuming it's the same as the other two stores: First, they calculate what they will sell the merchandise for. Then they offer you 50% of that total in store credit, or 30% of that total in cash.

Buffalo Exchange in Uptown buys and sells more trendy clothing and accessories than the other two stores. Before I committed to the sale, I informed the employee that I'd also be shopping my wares at Everyday People, which prompted sudden snottiness. She quoted me at $19.95 cash option but warned that, if she wasn't the person at the counter when I came back, that offer could go down. Only having sold clothes once before, I'd never really thought about it, but I suppose that's the nature of the beast; the quotes will inevitably be somewhat arbitrary. Also, she didn't know what Von Maur was when I answered her question about where one of my items was purchased. I found that to be a little odd for someone who's supposed to know fashion. Buffalo Exchange passed on the white DKNY capris, the crocheted Echo hair wraps and the denim Rubbish jacket, so the $19.95 quote excludes those items.

Everyday People in Uptown stocks about 40% vintage clothing, or at least that's my best guess having stopped in there numerous times. There was a friendly staff of two working when I walked in, and they were quick to sort through my bag of goodies and come up with a quote of $10.25 cash option. Interestingly, they also passed on the same items: the capris, hair wraps and denim jacket. Now, had the margin been smaller between Buffalo Exchange's quote and Everyday People's quote, I would've just sold my clothes to Everyday People and called it a day. But we're talking about an almost $10 difference.

That's a Sawanoi during happy hour at Azia.

Naturally, I returned to Buffalo Exchange to get my $19.95. Now, I'm not one to really bitch about bad customer service, but if an experience is exceptionally bad, I feel the need to mention it. The employee that checked out my clothes was still there (this was only like 20 minutes later) and she copped even more of an attitude when I returned. I won't quote the whole conversation, but suffice to say there was a way to make me understand the rules -- you must wait your turn (there were now 3 people ahead of me), you cannot shop while you wait (the other two stores encourage it), you cannot go outside while you wait, you cannot move more than 5 feet from the counter while you wait, you must keep your bag(s) with you at all times while you wait -- without being a snot about it. In fact, I would happily return to Buffalo Exchange to both sell clothes and shop, had my experience with the employee there been better.

But it wasn't, so I won't. I took my $19.95 cash option and headed to Azia. I'll most likely just continue donating my clothes in the future but, if I decide to sell again, I'll probably go to Everyday People. Interesting, too, that the price difference was relatively big for six items. I guess I've never noticed Buffalo Exchange being so much more expensive than Everyday People.

Comments

[Tegan]

Yeah, it's too bad the Buff X here totally blows. I had a similar experience when I tried selling there, too. Tucson, however, houses some of the most knowledgeable staff and best selection of vintage clothes, which is the best way to gauge said consignment shop.

[Tara (twoleggedtara)]

I found the Buffalo Exchange employees to be snot faces too. I have also noticed that tons of their clothes are for Target and they charge more for them than Target does new! Down with Buffalo Exchange. I would much rather go to Everyday Peeps.

[Jessica]

OH my gosh. I completely agree. The people that work there seem clueless about fashion and are total assholes to the people that come in to shop or sell.

[Doni]

I never really have any luck with Plato's Closet, and the staff is usually pretty indifferent. Service wise, I've always thought Everyday People was the best bet, but I've never stopped at Buffalo Exchange. Don't know that I will now though. Thanks for this post - I've been cleaning things out like crazy and wanted to try to sell things prior to donating this time around too.

[hanner73@gmail.com]

My experience, equally as bad, I've never been snubbed so hard in all my life. That being said, my clothes were all under 2 years old, and purchased in the hey day of having a roommate, and EXTREME spending habits, this was pretty nice stuff. Puma stuff, and lots of Anthropologie.

I wasn't expecting much by the way of extra cash, but this broad was a rank bitch to me, eyes rolled, the whole bit.

So I have vowed never to shop there. Nu-Look is better, and obvx. Fashion Avenue.

[Jade]

OK, my experience with Buffalo was totally different - I went late in the day in the winter, had 5 bags of stuff with me, most of it trendy and designer, and they were nothing but nice to me. I ended up $200 cash option (there were a lot of good shoes in there) and still had 2 bags left to donate.

I agree with the commentor above who said Tucson Buffalo Exchange (and Phoenix) are way better, but that may be because they started in AZ and are fantastic there. The selection of clothes at the one here stinks.

But I thought the service was fine. They encouraged me to shop and left me alone.

But again - that was 6 months ago, maybe things have changed.

[Muscleyarm]

Buffalo Exchange staff in Uptown are so snotty and rude. I attempted to sell some clothing there a few months ago. After about 10 minutes, the employee handed me back my clothing and suggested that I donate them. I had some of the same brands that they sold, so it wasn't like I was trying to sell pit-stained Target T-shirts. Nothing like having a 19 year old try to make you feel like trash!

[Lee]

I have come to really love NuLook, if you're willing to wait for your money (you get half of what they sell it for). You definitely get more for your clothes in the end, and they are always very nice.

[joseph]

When you think about it, it's odd that a national company would exist which routinely insults their customers and pisses them off, whilst taking such care to seem all green and socially conscious in their official corparate PR...
I, too have been made to wait in a tin chair while the clerk ( yes, CLERK, as in 19 year old, doesn't know shit like the record store CLERK that's always too cool for you) goes through thousands of dollars at new retail clothes in good condition and makes baffling selections and offers half of Goodwill retail, does ever other possible floor task while you are waiting for this 19 year old fashion oracle, and then has the audacity to offer a shopping option AFTER you've spent a hour in that friggin tin chair! I actually voiced my concerns about how I was treated to the manager and she said Well, you see, it's just a "service which we offer", and I just said "Well, I get that" ( what I meant was that I got the ATTITUDE) and left, with an hour gone of my life and like 36 dollars in my pocket. I DONT CARE IF THEY DONT WANT TO BUY MY CLOTHES OR DONT WANT TO PAY ME ANYTHING FOR THEM, IT'S A BUISNESS,THEY HAVE SEASONAL/INVENTORY NEEDS , I GET THAT. BUT THEY DONT HAVE TO TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS LIKE THEY ARE LUCKY THAT THEY ARE OPEN!Sorry for the yelling, but someone needs to friggn hear this.

[wholesale apple bottoms]

I love this white sleeve less blouse with black flower design, so cute. wish to wear that! thanks for the post.

-mikee-

[avaia]

There is other places like clothes mentor in roseville and maple grove and I have had better experiences going to. Plato's in eden prairie and maple grove there more fashionable knowledge workers there.. the most bad dealings I have ran across from when a vintage store says..my clothes are to old label to buy.. hello. Is this a vintage store why would the label matter if its cute and stiill fashionable. Or theey do not have the money to buy it it is better to go early in the day cuz they have a limited amount of money to buy things, remember go early and wed thru Friday is better never on the weekends.